Packaging machine



Aug. 31, 1965 P. J. WOOD 3,203, 3

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR.

P RENTICE J WOOD ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1965 Filed May 7, 1962 P. J. WOOD PACKAGING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

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Q INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1965 P. J. WOOD 3,203,153

' PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 7

INVENTOR.

PRENTICE J. WOOD ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,203,253 PACKAGING MACHINE Prentice J. Wood, College Park, Ga., assignor to The Mead Corporation, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 7, 1962, Ser. No. 192,875 19 Claims. (Cl. 53-48) This invention relates to packaging machines and more particularly to a machine for automatically securing a wrapper type packaging blank about a group of articles to be packaged and wherein a single compact system of parts performs the functions of folding and tightening of the wrapper about its associated group of articles and also advances the package group through the machine by increments.

In high speed heavy duty machines which are capable of packaging large quantities of consumer items in multiple type packages, the wrappers and articles to be packaged are moved continuously from the beginning of the packaging operation to its completion and the various positioning, folding and tightening operations are performed while the articles to be packaged and their associated wrappers are moved along together at high speed. Machines of this type require a substantial amount of floor space and are particularly adapted for use in conjunction with high speed high capacity packaging operations. An example of such a machine is that disclosed and claimed in US. Patent 2,751,730, issued June 26, 1956, on an application filed by Hermond G. Gentry and assigned to the owner of this invention.

Where the speed and capacity requirements of a packaging machine for use in conjunction with wrapper type blanks are not so stringent as to require a machine of the type disclosed in the above mentioned patent, it may be desirable to utilize a packaging machine of the type disclosed and claimed in US. patent application Serial No. 176,357, filed February 28, 1962, now Patent No. 3,130,- 527, and assigned to the assignee of this invention. In such a machine the articles to be packaged and their associated wrapper are moved in incremental stages from the beginning of the packaging operation through the machine to the completion of the packaging function. Such a machine may be considered as being of intermediate capacity when compared to that of Patent 2,751,730.

Where the speed and capacity requirements of a particular operation are not so great as to require a machine of the above mentioned intermediate type, it is desirable to combine functions in a single system and thereby to effect savings in floor space, in initial investment and in the cost of operating. Thus folding and tightening of the wrapper about the articles can be performed by the mechanism which imparts incremental movement to the group of articles and its associated blank. Such a combination of functions is possible where the capacity and speed requirements are not as great as in the operation requiring the so-called intermediate type of packaging machine.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved packaging machine of the type in which a wraparound type of blank is placed about a group of articles to be packaged and wherein certain of the package forming operations are performed by a single system of ma chine elements so as to effect economies in floor space, in operation of the machine as well as in the initial investment required.

The invention in one form may combine an elongated indexing element disposed adjacent to and in generally parallel relation with the path of movement of the groups of articles as they are passed through the machine, a support yoke slidably and swingably mounted on the indexing rod, article engaging means mounted on the yoke and arranged to impart incremental movement to the group 3,203,153 Patented Aug. 31, 1965 of articles to be packaged, blank engaging elements also mounted on the yoke and arranged to perform folding as Well as tightening operations on the blank, driving means operably related with the yoke for imparting positive reciprocatory movement thereto and to the parts associated therewith, and spring biased earn controlled motivating means operably related with the yoke through a cradle mechanism arranged to accommodate slidable movement of the yoke relative to the motivating means but which is arranged to prevent oscillatory swinging movement of the yoke relative to the motivating means so that operating force imparted by a biasing element to the motivating means may perform a cam controlled folding and tightening operation on the wrapper blank.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a side view of a packaging machine embodying the invention; FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the mechanism as viewed along the line 33 as indicated in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a plan view of a wrapper blank of the type used to form packages by the machine of this invention; FIG. 5 is an end view of a package using the blank of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a side view of the package depicted in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of certain essential elements forming the right hand half of the machine as viewed for example in FIG. 2; and in which FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the time sequence of operation of the essential package forming steps performed by the machine of this invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 1 depicts a horizontal base element to which upright elements 2 and 3 are secured to form a part of the machine frame. The numeral 4 is used to designate the frame element opposite element 3 which part is not shown in FIG. 1. Disposed between the support elements 2 and 3 is a horizontal beam 5 which is secured to the posts 2 and 3 in any suitable manner such as by welding. As can best be seen in FIG. 2 a horizontal beam similar to beam 5 is utilized and is designated by the numeral 6. Secured to the upright frame posts 2 and 3 above the beam 5 is a horizontal structural frame element 7 to which a pair of vertically disposed upright support elements 8 and 9 are secured. Secured atop the support elements 8 and 9 is a generally transversely disposed beam 10 secured to elements 8 and 9 by any suitable means such as by welding rivets, bolts and the like. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, a horizontally disposed element 11 is utilized and corresponds generally to the horizontal element 7. It will be understood that elements similar to support elements 8 and 9 and beam 10 are formed on the left hand part of the machine as viewed in FIG. 2, such elements being omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity.

Power for operating the machine is derived from an electric motor 12 and its associated gear box 13 and the various functions of the machine are controlled by a main cam shaft 14. The folding and tightening operations are imparted to the wrapper blank together with incremental movement of each package group by the structure depicted in FIG. 7.

The articles to be packaged are fed into the machine from the right hand side thereof as viewed in FIG. 1 and are passed through what might be called three packaging stages designated in FIG. 1 at P1, P2, and P3. The P1 stage is the position at which blanks 16 from the hopper generally designated by the numeral 15 are drawn downwardly atop the items to be packaged such are designated as B1, B2, and B3. Ordinarily, the items to be packaged are arranged in two rows of three items each one such row comprising the three bottles B1, B2 and B3.

The stage designated in FIG. 1 at P2 may be defined as the folding and tightening stage at which the blanks are folded downwardly from above alongside the sides of the package and then inwardly underneath the article group with the wrapper ends in overlapping relation thereunder.

The final stage depicted in FIG. 1 and designated at P3 can be defined as the locking stage wherein the overlapping end portions of the wrapper are secured together underneath the articles.

One type of blank is depicted in plan view in FIG. 4 and comprises a top panel designated by the letter A, a side panel C1 and a second side panel C2. The bottom lap panels D and E are overlapped underneath the articles and are secured together by locking tabs F formed in panel D which are inserted into openings defined by retaining tabs G formed in panel E. For the purpose of tightening the blank, tightening apertures H are provided in lap panel D and similar tightening apertures J are formed in lap panel G. It will be understood that machine elements enter the tightening apertures H and J and move toward each other so as to tighten the wrapper about the group of articles to be packaged. If the blank is to be used in conjunction with bottles, it ordinarily is desirable to form bottle receiving apertures such as are designated at K1 in the bottom of side panel C1 and similar apertures K2 formed in the bottom of side panel C2. In like fashion openings L are provided in the top panel A for receiving the necks of the bottles. A package such as is depicted in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 is disclosed and claimed in US. Patent 2,786,572, issued March 26, 1957, on an application filed by Hermond G. Gentry and owned by the assignee of this invention.

For the purpose of supplying one of the Wrapper blanks 16 into overlying relation to a group of articles fed into the machine and located at station P1, a vacuum. system is utilized. Such a system may comprise a vacuum pump and motor generally designated in FIG. 1 by the numeral 17, a hose 18, a valve 19, hose 20 and a pivotally mounted operating rod 21 to the end of which suction cup 22 is afiixed. Rod 21 is pivoted at 23 to the frame of the machine and operating movement is imparted thereto by crank 24 which is secured to and movable with the arm 21. Crank 24 is pivoted by pin 25 to an adjustable operating rod 26 which in turn is pinned at 27 to a crank 28 connected with crank 29 pivoted at 30 to the frame.

Crank 29 is connected by a pin 31 to an operating rod 32 which in turn is connected by pin 33 to lever 34 on which a cam follower pin 35 is mounted. The lever 34 is mounted at its right hand end to a fixed pin 36 secured to frame element 5. Cam 37 is secured to and rotatable with the main cam shaft 14 and engages cam follower 35. By so doing the arm 21 is operated through the link age just described in opposition to spring 38, and suction is applied by valve 19 in synchronism with operation of the arm 21. In this manner the bottom blank 16 in the hopper 15 is drawn downwardly atop the bottle group located at station P1.

For the purpose of receiving and guiding each blank 16 after it is drawn down out of the hopper 15, two guide elements 35 are fixedly secured to the frame of the machine, only the near one of such elements being seen in FIG. 1.

For the purpose of imparting incremental movement to each package group and to its associated wrapper so as to cause the package to move from position P1 to position P2, the structure best shown in FIG. 7 is utilized. As shown in FIG. 7, an elongated indexing element designated by the numeral 40 is securely aflixed in position to fixed mounting blocks 41 and 42 which are supported by the frame of the machine. The ends of the elongated indexing element 40 are journally mounted in bearings 43 and 44. Thus, the indexing element 40 is rotatably oscillatable about the bearings 43 and 44 as a center. Slidably and oscillatably mounted on the indexing rod 40 is a support yoke 45 to which a carriage 46 is fixedly secured. A finger 46A is mounted on carriage 46 and engages and pushes the trailing edge of the wrapper at station P1 to push it to station P2. Mounted atop the carriage 46 are three article engaging elements 47, 48 and 49. These elements are adjustably secured to the carriage 46 by bolts 50, 51 and 52, respectively.

For the purpose of imparting reciprocatory sliding movement to the support yoke 45 and to the article engaging elements 47, 48 and 49, a positive driving mechanism is provided. Such driving rod 53 which is pivotally connected at 54 to the yoke 45 and which is pivotal- 1y connected at 55 to driving arm 56 pivoted on fixed shaft 57 and driven by rod 58 pinned at 59 to the element 56 and which in turn is pinned at 60 to operating rod 61 mounted at one end to fixed shaft 62 and engageable with an internal cam 63 securely affixed to and rotatable with the main cam shaft 14. Thus, rotation of cam shaft 14 and in turn of cam 63 imparts oscillatory motion to rod 61 about the fixed shaft 62 as a center. Such motion imparts reciprocatory movement to the linkage above described and in turn results in reciprocation of yoke 45 axially along the indexing element 40.

For the purpose of imparting angular oscillatory movement to the yoke support 45 and to the article engaging fingers 47, 48 and 49, motivating means is provided in the form of a fixed shaft 64 about which a link 65 is pivotally mounted. Link 65 is engageable by cam 66 which causes oscillatory movement of driving link 65. Link 65 is connected by pin 67 with rod 68 which at its upper end is pinned at 69 to a crank 70. The crank 70 is fixedly secured to the bottom trough-like element 71 of a cradle mechanism having end plates 72 and 73 secured by lock bolts 74 and 75 to indexing rod 40.

For the purpose of biasing the motivating linkage just described toward its upper position a biasing element 76 is connected at 77 to the rod 68 and its upper end is secured to the frame of the machine as indicated at 79.

It is apparent that the biasing element 76 urges the link 68 upwardly and in turn tends to rotate the cradle bar 71 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7 about the indexing rod 40 as a center. Such motion is controlled by the folding control cam 66 which limits and controls the upward travel of rod 68 and of the various elements associated therewith.

For the purpose of interrelating the cradle 71 with the support yoke 45 in slidable relation, a longitudinal slot 80 is formed in the upper surface of the cradle bar 71 and a slide pin 81 formed integrally with the support yoke 45 is arranged to slide along the slot 80. Thus, upward movement imparted to rod 68 by spring 76 imparts swinging movement to the cradle and in turn imparts angular movement to the yoke 45 which causes the yoke 45 and the fingers 47, 48 and 49 to swing in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7 about the indexing rod 40 as a center. In like fashion, downward movement of rod 68 and parts associated therewith due to the action of folding control cam 66 causes the fingers 47, 48 and 49 to swing in a clockwise direction about the indexing rod 40. An inspection of FIG. 7 indicates that movement toward and away from an article group is achieved so that the fingers 47, 48 and 49 can move into engagement with and out of engagement from each article group due to the action of biasing element 76 and the cam 66 while reciprocation is imparted to the yoke 45 and to the fingers 47, 48 and 49 by the driving means of which the rod 53 and the internal cam 63 form integral parts. Thus, in order to move an article group from the position depicted at P1, the fingers 47, 48 and 49 are oscillated in a clockwise direction about the indexing rod as a center and subsequently the rod 53 moves the yoke 45 and the fingers 47, 48 and 49 to the extreme right hand position. Subsequently, the elements are oscillated in a counterclockwise direction about the indexing rod 40 so that the fingers 48 and 49 move into engagement with and envelopes the article group at position P1. When so positioned the mechanism depicted in FIG. 7 is disposed at its extreme right hand position and such position is designated on the timing chart shown in FIG. 8 as the 0 position. Thereafter, sliding movement is imparted to the fingers 48 and 49 by the positive driving mechanism including the link 53. Such movement causes the bottles disposed at position P1 and which are enveloped between the fingers 48 and 49 to slide down to position P2. Thereafter, oscillatory movement is imparted to yoke member 45 and to the fingers 47, 48 and 49 by the action of rod 68, spring 76 and folding cam 66 to cause the fingers 47, 48 and 49 to swing in a clockwise direction about the indexing rod 40. Of course, the structure is subsequently moved toward the right as viewed in FIG. 7 and the action described is repeated.

While the structure of FIG. 7 has been described in functional as well as in structural terms, it will be understood that an identical assembly is disposed on the left side of the machine as viewed in FIG. 2. These two assemblies operate in synchronism.

For the purpose of folding the blank downwardly about the sides of each package group, the folding fingers 85 are utilized. Such fingers are best shown in FIG. 1 and are secured to and movable with the shaft 30. Thus, as the operating rod 32 and associated parts are in the process of drawing downwardly a blank 16 from the hopper 15 the two folder elements 85 on each side of the package are rotated in a counterclockwise direction with the shaft 30. As the blank feeder arm 21 is returned to the position depicted in FIG. 1 by being rotated in a clockwise direction with the shaft 23, the folding arms 85 are drawn downwardly from their upper position to the position depicted in FIG. 1. In so moving the folding arms 85 cause the side panels C1 and C2 of the asso ciated blank to fold downwardly alongside the group of articles to be packaged which are disposed at position P2. The arms then occupy the position depicted in FIG. 1. Of course, the arms 85 are subsequently rotated in a counterclockwise direction about the shaft 30 as the blank feeder mechanism supplies a blank to the succeeding group of articles then located at position P1. Thus, the folding elements 85 together with the blank feeding elements 21 are operated by a common operating linkage.

The mechanism described above in connection with FIG. 7 and comprising the fingers 47, 48 and 49 for incrementally feeding the article group and its associated wrapper from the station P1 to the station P2 also per-' forms a folding and tightening operation on the lap panels D and E.

Thus, for the purpose of folding the bottom lap panel B inwardly underneath the article group, the blank engaging elements 86 and 87 are adjustably securedatop the carriage 46 by the bolts 88 and 89. At its left hand end the blank engaging element 86 is provided with blank tightening element 90 and a similar tightening element 91 is mounted on the blank engaging element 87. Thus, as the blank engaging elements 86 and 87 swing inwardly at position P2 due to the action of biasing element 76 and folding control cam 66, the lap panel B is folded underneath the article group which is supported on the sword 78 shown in FIG. 1. Simultaneously the tightening elements 90 and 91 enter the tighteningapertures J formed in the lap panel B of the wrapper blank. This tightening operation is performed simultaneously with the performance of a similar tightening operation from the mechanism on the opposite side of the machine which is identical to that shown in FIG. 7 and results in a secure tightening of the wrapper about the article group at position P2 and causes the rim portions of the packaged items to protrude through the openings in the blank designated in FIG. 4 by the letters K2 and K1. Since the article group as depicted in FIG. 1 at station P2 is still supported on the sword 78, and since the lap panels D and E of the wrapper are disposed underneath the sword, it is not possible to impart the final tightening of the wrapper at station P2. This final tightening in accordance with a feature of the invention is effected after the wrapper and its associated group is moved away from station P2 and toward the station designated in FIG. 1 at P3. In this connection it is apparent that the tightening and folding force imparted to the support yoke 45 and parts associated therewith is imparted by the yieldable biasing element 76.

When the package group is moved from station P2 to station P3 the group is moved clear of the sword 78 and onto the angie supports 82 and 83 best shown in FIG. 3 so that the final tightening operation may then be effected. In this connection the flat right hand end of cam plate 92 underneath which the cam roller 93 rides in engaging relation is spaced so as to impart a constant yet fairly loose tension to the wrapper so long as the article group is supported on the sword 78 with the lap panels D and E disposed underneath the sword. As the package clears the sword, however, and in accordance with a feature of the invention, the roller 93 rolls off of the fiat portion of the cam plate 92 and onto the upturned end portion 94 thereof. The upturned portion 94 of cam plate 92 allows the roller 93 to move upwardly somewhat. This upward movement in turn allows the support yoke 45 and the tightening elements and 91 to swing in a counterclockwise direction about the indexing rod 40 and in so doing to impart the final tightening action to the blank. Once the final tightening action is imparted to the blank the package and blank are then in condition to be locked by causing the locking tabs F to move into the apertures defined by the retaining tabs G formed in the blank depicted in FIG. 4. It will be understood, of course, that movement of an article group from position P2 to position P3 is effected by the fingers 47 and 48 when moved to their extreme left hand position as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 7.

Once the article group and its tightened wrapper arrive at the position P3 the locking fingers 95 mounted on the locking arm 96 are swung in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 for example due to the upward movement of rod 97 which is pivotally connected at 98 to arm 96. This upward movement is imparted to rod 97 by crank 99 against the action of the biasing spring 100. Crank 99 is pivoted at 101 and is provided with a cam roller 102 which rides on the cam 183 secured to the main cam shaft 14. Once the locking tabs F enter the apertures defined by the retaining tabs G the package is then complete and is then discharged from the left hand end of the machine.

From the description thus far, it is clear that the single driving mechanism comprising the push rod 32 and its associated cam and spring mechanism performs a side folding operation in connection with the folders 85 and in addition performs the blank feeding operation in connection with the feeder arm 21. In addition, the fact that the mechanism generally depicted in FIG. 7 is effective not only to feed the packages by incremental stages from the position P1 to position P2 and in turn to the final locking stage P3 but in addition mechanism of FIG. 7 also performs the folding and tightening operations whereby the blank is folded and subsequently tightened in two different phases, depending on whether the group is disposed atop the supporting sword or whether it has been discharged therefrom. In this manner economies of space as well as in the initial investment and in operating costs are achieved.

The particular sequence in which the operations are performed are depicted in graphic form on the timing chart designated as FIG. 8. An elaboration of the chart depicted in FIG. 8 is not deemed necessary, in View of the fact that each curve of FIG. 8 bears its own legend.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention I do not wish to be limited thereto and intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for placing a wrap-around blank about a group of articles to be packaged, said machine comprising a support yoke arranged for sliding movement alongside the article group and for swinging movement in a direction transverse to its direction of sliding movement, article engaging means mounted on said yoke, indexing means for imparting reciprocatory sliding movement to said yoke and to said article engaging means whereby incremental movement is imparted to the group of articles, blank engaging means movable With said yoke for folding and tightening the wrapper about the articles, and motivating means for imparting operating movement to said blank engaging means and to said article engaging means in a direction generally transverse to the axis of reciprocatory movement of said indexing means.

2. A machine for packaging a group of articles in a wrapper type blank, said machine comprising article engaging means for imparting incremental movement to the group of articles, a support yoke reciprocably mounted alongside the path of movement of the group of articles and forming a support for said articles engaging means, driving means for imparting reciprocatory movement to said support yoke and to said article engaging means, a cradle guide interconnected with said support yoke and arranged to accommodate relative movement therebetween in the direction of reciprocatory movement of said support yoke but not in a direction transverse thereto, said cradle guide being angularly oscillatable in a direction generally transverse to the path of reciprocatory movement of said yoke, and motivating means for imparting oscillator movement to said support yoke and to said article engaging means whereby the group of articles is engaged and subsequently disengaged.

3. A packaging machine comprising an enlongated indexing element disposed alongside the path of movement of a group of articles to be packaged, a support yoke slidably mounted on said indexing element and swingable about the axis thereof as a center, driving means for imparting sliding movement to said support yoke, a cradle guide swingable about the axis of said indexing element as a center and slidably connected with a part of said support yoke, and motivating means connected with said cradle guide and operable to impart swinging movement thereto thereby to impart swinging movement to said support yoke about said indexing element as a center without interfering with sliding movement of said support yoke relative to said indexing element.

4. A packaging machine comprising an elongated indexing element disposed alongside the path of movement of a group of articles to be packaged, a support yoke slidably mounted on said indexing element and swingable about the axis thereof as a center, driving means for imparting sliding movement to said support yoke, a cradle guide swingable about the axis of said indexing element as a center and slidably conected with a part of said support yoke, motivating means connected with said cradle guide and operable to impart swinging movement thereto thereby to impart swinging movement to said support yoke about said indexing element as a center without interfering with sliding movement of said support yoke relative to said indexing element, biasing means for imparting operating movement to said motivating means, and control means for limiting the operating movement of said motivating means.

5. A packaging machine comprising an elongated indexing element disposed alongside the path of movement of a group of articles to be packaged, a support yoke slidably mounted on said indexing element and swingable ment as a center and slidably connected with a part of said support yoke, motivating means connected with said cradle guide and operable to impart swinging movement thereto thereby to impart swinging movement to said support yoke about said indexing element as a center without interfering with sliding movement of said support yoke relative to said indexing element, a cam plate disposed in fixed, spaced relation to said indexing element, a cam roller mounted on said support yoke and arranged to engage a surface of said cam plate, and means including biasing means for urging said cam roller into engagement with said surface of said cam plate, said surface being configured to impart controlled angular movement to said support yoke about said indexing element as a center.

6. A machine for placing a wrap-around type blank about a group of articles to be packaged, said machine comprising a supporting sword on which the group of articles is supported while being moved at least during a portion of its travel through the machine, an elongated indexing element disposed in spaced generally parallel relation to said sword, a support yoke slidably mounted on said indexing element and swingable about the axis thereof as a center, driving means for imparting sliding movement to said support yoke, a cradle guide swingable about the axis of said indexing element as a center and slidably connected with a part of said support yoke,

'motivating means connected with said cradle guide and operable to impart swinging movement thereto thereby to impart swinging movement to said support yoke about said indexing element as a center without interfering with sliding movement of said support yoke relative to said indexing element, a cam plate disposed in fixed, spaced relation to said indexing element, a cam roller mounted on said support yoke and arranged to engage a surface of said cam plate, means including biasing means for urging said cam roller into engagement with said surface of said -cam plate, said surface being configured to maintain said support yoke in a substantially constant angular relation to the group of articles as long as the group is supported by said sword and being arranged to allow said support yoke to swing closer to the group of articles after it passes the end of said sword.

7. A machine for placing a wrap-around blank about a group of articles to be packaged, said machine comprising blank engaging means, a movably mounted support yoke on which said blank engaging means is mounted, spring means for imparting blank folding and tightening movement to said yoke and to said blank engaging means, and folding and tightening cam control means arranged to oppose folding and tightening movement of said yoke and of said blank engaging means.

8. A machine for imparting incremental movement to a group of articles to be packaged, said machine comprising a support yoke arranged for sliding movement alongside the article group and for swinging movement about its axis of sliding movement as a center and in a direction transverse to the direction of its sliding movement, article engaging means mounted on said yoke, driving means for imparting reciprocatory sliding movement to said yoke and to said article engaging means whereby incremental movement is imparted to an article group, biasing means for imparting controlled swinging movement to said yoke in a direction transverse to its axis of sliding movement for causing said article engaging means to engage the article group, and control means acting in coordination with said driving means 'and in opposition to said biasing means for causing said article engaging means to disengage the article group.

9. A machine for imparting incremental movement to a group of articles to be packaged and for placing a wrap-around blank about the group, said machine comprising article engaging means, blank engaging means,

* a movably mounted support yoke on which said article engaging means and said blank engaging means are mounted, driving means for imparting reciprocatory sliding movement to said yoke, biasing means for imparting swinging movement to said yoke, and control means operable in coordination with operating movement of said driving means and acting in opposition to said biasing means for imparting reverse swinging movement to said yoke.

10. A machine for imparting incremental movement to a group of articles to be packaged and for placing a wrap-around blank about the group, said machine comprising article engaging means, blank engaging means, a movably mounted support yoke on which said article engaging means and said blank engaging means are mounted, driving means for imparting positive reciprocatory sliding movement to said yoke and to said article 10 and to said blank engaging means, said support yoke being arranged for swinging movement generally in a direction transverse to its axis of sliding movement about such axis as a center, and biasing means for imparting swinging movement to said yoke and to said article and to said blank engaging means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,064,404 11/62 Chidsey et a1. 53-48 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

BROMLEY SEELEY, Examiner. 

7. A MACHINE FOR PLACING A WRAP-AROUND BLANK ABOUT A GROUP OF ARTICLES TO BE PACKAGED, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING BLANK ENGAGING MEANS, A MOVABLE MOUNTED SUPPORT YOKE ON WHICH SAID BLANK ENGAGING MEANS IS MOUNTED, SPRING MEANS FOR IMPARTING BLANK FOLDING AND TIGHTEN MOVEMENT TO SAID YOKE AND TO SAID BLANK ENGAGING MEANS, AND FOLDING AND TIGHTENING CAM CONTROL MEANS ARRANGED TO OPPOSE FOLDING AND TIGHTENING MOVEMENT OF SAID YOKE AND OF SAID BLANK ENGAGING MEANS. 